The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-12-28
CHINESE MASONS.
A Curious Lodge OF Them In New
York Their Nreting- Place.

YORK NOR
Old Masons we're, until late, of the opinion
that no such q thing a. Chinese Mason OK
lsted, saws 7he Ven lork Word. one gentle.
man said he had seen Arabs and Turks who
were good Masons, but 10 the best OF his
knowledge no Chnaman was in the order.
Nevertheless, there are not only Chinese Ma
sons, but right here in New York there Is a
Chinese Masonic lodge In full blast with a
membership Of over three hundred. IL Is a
native organization, not allied directly TO the
Free AMI Accepted Masons, but said to be
founded OF principles very nearly akin.
The lodge room is at No Is Mott street,
second floor, front, and has recently been re-
modelled and rcttted In very good shape, all
newly-painted aud cleaned. The lodge furni-
tnrc is OF Chinese design, and imported from
China expressly for The society al q great cN'
pense 4 tall flagstaff with a rope for run
ming up coors is on top OF the building.
Above The door as one enters the lodgc.room
is u red sign In native characters slgnlfylng
Chinese Masonic ,ocet ~ aud down the
sides are two long slips OF red paper bearing
notices. One Of these Is "do good to one AN
othern aud The other relates 10 the business
OF the order.
The interior Is like most Chinese quarters,
only lighter, and not full Of odd turns and un-
suspected corners. Immediately ON entering
one IL led Into u sort OF ante.room ana thence
into the main or lodge.room. AT the lower
end Of this room Is the alter, and very valll'
able one II is, costing in China 1 800 Above
ii is an alcove in which co'ored drawing Is
suspended II Is not the least curious thing
In the place. the design being three figures,
one seated and two others bending over his
shoulder. The seated figure represents the
venerable father OF Chinese Masonry. The
face Is heavy, placid, and adorned with long
black beard. The other two are respectively
the spirits of light and darkness, who are sup.
posed 10 be giving him counsel. In front OF
the altar n lamp Is hanged II Is never eXiin.
gulshed and burns in conmelnoraton OF the
dead OF The order. Another emblem n two
sticks OF sandal-wood punk thrust into a box
OF sand 1hcy keep smoldering away and ill
the air with faint hut sweet perfume
On the wall Is q long board, and on this are
pasted n great number Of sheets OF paper Gov
cred with Chinese hIeroglypbics These are
the lists Of members voted ON In the New York
lodge. Near the roster hang two books One
Of these is sent out from the supreme lodge
at San Francisco, aud gives detailed account
OF n number of eases Of those In distress and
sickness aud the whereabouts Of each one
who needs help, The other is subscription
book, ~ which the various amounts subscrlb-
ed are entered. Al intervals these two books
aud the amount raised are transmitted TO the
supreme lodge, from Which Inc dcpcnucnl
members are relieved.
Meetings are not held upon regular nights
hut ut intervals decided upon by the dignltar-
les OF The order, ss the necessities of business
may demand. The members are notified of
meetings, held generally on Sunday nights, by
The appearance Of triangular lag at the TOP
OF the pole ON top of The house. The flag II
white and bears the picture oil n huge red
dragon with its tail Toward the point There
are grips, signs, aud passwords exactly Ms IN
an American lodge. "lhe travelling card' OF
this society is quite curiosity IN itself. II is
square OF re-, silk inscribed with Chinese
characters, aud is document highly priced
by all its nossessors.